New research shows almost two thirds of Scots don’t know stroke is leading cause of complex disability

The nation is woefully unaware of stroke, and the lifelong impact it can have on Scotland’s stroke survivors, according to new data released for World Stroke Day (29 October).

Stroke is Scotland’s third biggest killer¹and the leading cause of complex adult disability. Yet new survey results from the Stroke Association found that people are worryingly uninformed about stroke and the risk it poses to health as well as long-term quality of life.

The UK survey of 2,000 members of the public and 1,000 stroke survivors² found 63% of Scots didn’t know that stroke is the UK’s leading cause of complex adult disability, when in reality almost two thirds (60%) of stroke survivors are left disabled³ – more than for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis and some cancers.

The survey also found that only 24% of Scottish respondents thought stroke survivors need long-term rehabilitation and recovery support with 26% thinking it took a year or less to recover. The figures show that far too many Scots don’t know stroke can have long-term effects, which need long-term, and potentially lifelong, support to recover.

In Scotland, the Stroke Association is calling for three things it believes are essential to ensuring stroke survivors get appropriate rehabilitation support for as long as they need it, and today’s findings have injected renewed urgency.

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:

“Stroke can change lives in an instant, leaving people unable to move, see, speak or even swallow. But the right support in the right amounts for as long as people need it can have a dramatic effect on their recovery.

“That’s why we want every stroke patient to leave hospital with a personalised rehabilitation plan and contact details for stroke services for ongoing support, then, after six months, to have a thorough review of their progress.

“The Scottish Government set out these seemingly simple steps for health boards in its 2023 Stroke Improvement Plan, but two years later it’s still far from the norm leaving thousands of stroke survivors struggling to take crucial next steps that could set them on a path to more effective recovery.”

According to the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme 2025 annual report⁴:

• Only four of Scotland’s health boards (Dumfries & Galloway, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire and Shetland) have ‘Rehabilitation assessment’ – including devising a personalised rehabilitation plan – fully embedded in stroke care and being consistently delivered, with the other 10 rated “amber” for the past two years (2024 & 2023).
  
  
• Just one health board (Shetland) is rated “green” for ‘Stroke rehabilitation service provision’ – including providing contact details for ongoing support – being embedded in stroke care and consistently delivered, with the other 13 stubbornly on “amber” for the past two years.
  
  
• Only four of Scotland’s health boards (Ayrshire & Arran, Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles) have six-month reviews fully embedded in stroke care and being consistently delivered, while seven are “amber”, showing some evidence of these crucial milestone checks and two (Borders and Orkney) have remained “red” for the past two years. NHS Forth Valley was rated red in 2024, having been amber the year before.

John Watson concludes: “We know the NHS is under pressure. But improving stroke rehabilitation is part of the solution. Investing in stroke services has the potential to limit lifelong disability, which, in turn, could significantly reduce reliance on the health and care system.”

Cheryl Nicholson

Cheryl Nicholson, 56, from Cumbernauld had a rare type of stroke, which caused significant bleeding in both sides of her brain, in 2017. Cheryl’s story demonstrates the struggles many stroke survivors face in finding appropriate rehabilitation in recovery.

She spent a week in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital’s neurological ward where the consultant only ever referred to her as having a brain haemorrhage, so she was confused when there was debate between the brain injury and stroke teams, about who should take over her care on discharge.

Cheryl doesn’t recall receiving much rehabilitation in hospital except having to show she could walk up and down stairs and make a cup of tea. She says: “I then slipped through a gap in the system. They didn’t know whether to refer me to the

brain injury or stroke team.” When Cheryl didn’t hear anything for over a week, she contacted the hospital and eventually received a handful of visits from a stroke

nurse and physiotherapist. Without the right level of support, Cheryl says she had to find her own rehabilitation solutions.

She adds: “My stroke had a massive impact. It caused weakness in my left leg and arm, migraines and terrible fatigue. However, the most significant effects were hidden. When I left hospital, a consultant told me I’d soon be back to normal and that was the worst possible thing to say to someone like me who, I guess, you’d describe as a task-finisher. It left me striving for an unattainable goal that wreaked havoc with my emotions.”

It was two years before an Occupational Therapist told Cheryl she would never return to work. Cheryl concludes ruefully: “My early stroke journey was one of false hopes and frustration. However, over time I’ve learned to accept my limitations and reconcile myself to a new normal.”

Chris White

Chris White, 59, from Glasgow, shows what is possible when a patient receives effective rehabilitation support. In April 2024, Chris had a stroke while at work at the Mental Health Foundation. Fortunately, their offices are just minutes from Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he quickly received a brain scan and clot-busting drug.

Chris stayed in a high-dependency stroke unit for three days. On the fourth day he was transferred to the main stroke ward where he got a couple of therapy sessions a day, two for speech difficulties and two for physical effects including a totally immobile left arm and hand.

He says, “Early on, the therapists asked me what my goals were, and I told them I wanted to return to work and that really helped us. They developed a tailored programme and I could see that was my route back to some semblance of normality. I can’t stress enough how important it was to have that plan and those goals.

“I got support from occupational health, physio and speech and language therapists for another six to eight weeks, including practice with a keyboard and mouse and even delivering a PowerPoint presentation on mental health to the stroke team!”

Chris returned to work on a phased basis five months after his stroke.

The Stroke Association supports all stroke survivors and their families online, by phone and in the community. Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk/scotland

For further information, please email nancy.dear@stroke.org.uk or call 07425 164341.